| Snapshot from the Ridge | |
Each week, Pacific Ridge School invites you to enjoy a spontaneous view of school life.
Seniors deliver bags of gourmet coffee and granola bars to Carlsbad fire stations. Thank you, firefighters, for taking such good care of us!
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| Bulletin Board |
 Junior Parent Volunteers Needed for Grad Night
Attention Junior parents: It is a tradition that Junior parents handle the volunteer duties at our seniors' Graduation Night celebration. Help is needed on the evening of June 12th. Four volunteers are needed to help check in students from 8:45 to 9:45 p.m., and four parent chaperones are needed from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Please email Lora Abbey if you can help. Please remember, next year's Junior parents will be doing this for your graduates. The Senior Class Graduation Night Celebration Committee thanks you!
Global Vantage Issue 9 is Rolling Off the Printing Press!
Pacific Ridge's Global Vantage Issue 9 is on its way! The issue's theme is Guidance, and it includes articles about teaching, support, and leadership written by authors both within the Pacific Ridge community and across the world. The magazine will be available free of charge during the final week of school, but regular readers are encouraged to support Global Vantage by signing up for an annual subscription. Subscription funds help cover printing costs and support this year's Global Vantage social action project in El Salvador. Click here for more information.
Summer Programs and Sports Camps at Pacific Ridge!
From June 23rd to August 1st, Pacific Ridge will be offering a number of summer programs available to all students in San Diego's North County. Choices include both for-credit and non-credit classes for middle and high school students, the Firebird Program for rising 5th through 7th graders, and numerous sports camps. For more information and to register, please visit the 2014 Summer Programs page on the Pacific Ridge website.
Ready for High School? Check Out Our Freshman Seminar
Pacific Ridge's academic summer programs include a number of courses for students in Math and World Languages. In addition, incoming 9th-graders can take a one-week Freshman Seminar in either late July or early August. The class will introduce new students to concepts such as Harkness, and help them enhance work habits and skills that will lead to success in Pacific Ridge's Upper School. While the class is geared toward new students, returning students may benefit as well. For details, click here.
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| New & Noteworthy |
Seussical Jr. Brings Community Together
On May 16th and 17th, Pacific Ridge families joined together at the end of a trying week to enjoy and celebrate the school's second annual Middle School musical, Seussical, Jr.. They were rewarded by a fantastic performance chock-full of joyful energy. Attendees were uniformly impressed by the singing, dancing and acting talent on display, as well as the show's colorful costumes and sets. Congratulations to the hard-working cast and crew on a job well done! Many thanks go to director Fredreka Irvine, producer Steve Dziekonski, choreographer Wendy Moore and set designer Ray Oakes for their artistic vision and skill, and to parent volunteer coordinator Allison Borts and the many parent volunteers who helped make the show a success. For more pictures, please visit Pacific Ridge's Facebook page.
 Let's Go Global! Follow Our Travel Website
Pacific Ridge students are starting to head out on their global trips this week. Curious about the day-to-day activities of our students while they are traveling around the world? Parents are welcome to visit Pacific Ridge's Global Travel website! Simply log into Haiku, click on School Information, and select Global Travel. Each travel program has a blog on the site where updates and photos will periodically be posted.
First departure: Goodbye, Pacific Ridge -- India, here we come!
Seniors Come Together For Overnight Retreat
On Wednesday, May 22nd, soon-to-be Pacific Ridge graduates celebrated the end of high school with a Senior Retreat. Students spent the day working on their senior statements for commencement, decorating mortar boards, and writing letters to their future selves to be sealed in a time capsule. The evening was spent at a Carlsbad beach campground, roasting marshmallows, playing beach soccer, and sharing laughs and memories with classmates.
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| Curricular Adventures |
Senior Art Show Features Talent & Technique
The portfolios of Pacific Ridge's graduating visual artists were celebrated on Monday, May 19th, with a reception and exhibit in Mullady Hall. Families and friends viewed the artwork and discussed its inspiration and creation with each of the artists. Visual Arts teacher Lisa Paysen was pleased with the results of her students' hard work. "This year's Senior Show is a wonderful example of how the Visual Arts have grown at Pacific Ridge," she said. "The work on display by these students is unique and inspiring. I am very proud of all their hard work and dedication."
Pacific Ridge artists show their creative side.
Middle School Clubs Offer Variety, Exploration
On Wednesday, May 21st, Middle School clubs celebrated their last gathering of the year. Thanks to a variety of offerings that included everything from photography to ping pong, students spent the year's weekly clubs period engaging in favorite hobbies and trying their hand at new activities. Two clubs being offered for the first time this year, Apps & Coding and Skateboarding, were a huge hit with students. Members of the Apps and Coding club designed a mockup for a Pacific Ridge School app and practiced coding on individual projects, while students in the skateboarding club traveled to local skate parks where they learned from one another and worked to improve skateboard and scooter techniques.
Honing skills at Carlsbad Skatepark
Improv Team Quick on its Feet On Sunday, May 4th, members of Pacific Ridge's Improv Club participated in the National Comedy Theater's High School League annual tournament in downtown San Diego. Students competed in a field of over 20 schools and won several special awards. The "Aristocrats" award was given for the humor and sophistication of the team's musical theater and Shakespeare scenes, while the "Fellowship" award was earned when the Pacific Ridge team offered to play for a competitor whose arrival at the tournament was delayed. The tournament performance caps a successful year for the club.
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Service Learning in the Field
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Independent Service Learning Shares Progress
On Friday, May 9th, Upper School students working on Independent Service Learning projects came together to enjoy lunch and deliver year-end presentations to a panel of faculty and staff. The presentations were an opportunity for groups to learn from one another's progress and challenges, and to celebrate the great work they have done. Some of the projects underway include: redesigning and decorating a recuperative care unit's community room, developing a smartphone app that rewards children for good behavior, delivering a clean water system to a community in Africa, and providing food to and collecting stories from homeless San Diegans.
Salad for Sight seeks to combat childhood blindness in Cambodia by developing and distributing hydroponic lettuce gardens.
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| Parents Association |
Announcing the 2014-2015 Parents Association Board
The Parents Association would like to warmly welcome and introduce its new board members. Thank you for volunteering!
Executive Director: Simona Hellinger
Assistant Executive Director: Heidi Jessup
Secretary: Dana Reed
Treasurer: Connie Malloy
Governance/Nominating: Nancy Marr
Events Director: Allison Dinning
Co-Assistant Events Directors: Stacie Luly and Sari Rich
Programs Director: Terri Edwards
Assistant Programs Director: Phil Price
Parent Enrichment Director: Mara Phillips
Assistant Parent Enrichment Director: Kim Palumbo
Immediate Past Executive Director: Cathy Prvanov
 Book Buddies! Introducing the Online Textbook Exchange
The Pacific Ridge Parents Association is pleased to announce the roll out of its used textbook exchange website. The Book Buddies site is designed to be an online "bulletin board" where sellers can post books for sale and buyers can find books for purchase. This will replace the traditional used textbook sale, saving countless volunteer hours and creating a simpler, more sustainable exchange. Check your email for more information about how to list textbooks for sale on the Book Buddies site. A link for the site will be posted in Haiku on the Parents Association page.
Supper Club Year-End Social on June 1st
Pacific Ridge Supper 8 Club participants should mark their calendars for the group's year-end gathering on Sunday, June 1st. Signups are available on the Parents Association page in Haiku.
Date: Sunday, June 1st
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Next Parent Book Club on June 2nd
Title: The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt
Date: Monday, June 2nd
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Library Learning Commons
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Sports on the Ridge
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Firebird Golfers Named Coastal League Co-Champions
Pacific Ridge's Co-ed Varsity Golf team finished the regular season tied with La Jolla Country Day for first place in the Coastal League. Both schools finished with a league record of 8-2. During the league final at Eagle Crest Golf Course on May 13th, the team shot a combined 425 over 18 holes, finishing in third place. Seniors Marc Hedrick and Isabella Salant were named to the First Team All-League and Second Team All-League, respectively. Marc will compete in the CIF-San Diego section championships on May 27th and May 29th. Go Firebirds!
Boys Volleyball Serves Up Undefeated Inaugural Season
In its first year as a Pacific Ridge sport, the Boys Developmental Volleyball team remained undefeated, finishing the season with an impressive 9-0 record against more experienced competition. "Most of the boys came in with little to no volleyball experience and finished the season with solid fundamentals, an understanding of the game and a clear passion for the sport," said coach Justin McCabe. Next year, the team will compete at the Varsity level in the Pacific League.
Boys Varsity Tennis Players To Compete in Postseason
Senior Keane Hindle and Sophomores Joon-Ha Bae and Wayne Chong have qualified for the CIF Individual tennis tournament. Keane placed 4th in the conference singles tournament and Joon-Ha and Wayne placed 5th in the conference doubles tournament.
Upper School Lacrosse Playoff Update
The girls varsity lacrosse team enjoyed a successful season, scoring a first-round playoff victory over Helix High School. The girls advanced to the CIF quarterfinals, when their post-season play was stopped by a top-ranked San Marcos team. Due to Boys Varsity Lacrosse's impressive league record, the team moves directly to the CIF quarterfinals. The Firebirds will host Eastlake High School at 4:00 p.m. on May 23rd.
Girls Middle School Lacrosse Finishes Strong
The Girls Middle School Lacrosse team sailed through its end-of-year tournament with wins over San Marcos, the Falcons, and Poway. The Firebirds finished the tournament in 3rd place.
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| Beyond the Ridge | |
Transition to College Night for Senior Families on June 9th
Seniors and their parents are invited to campus on Monday evening, June 9th, for an event celebrating the Class of 2014's transition to college. The program bookends parent coffees and senior sessions with practical tips and advice, and gives families an opportunity to be entertained by the Improv Club's treatment of the college experience and to enjoy one another's company before graduation. You won't want to miss it! Grazing food and beverages will be served.
Date: Monday, June 9th
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: East Reading Room
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In a community that fosters academic excellence, ethical responsibility, and global engagement, Pacific Ridge School prepares students for college and a purposeful life.
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Schedule of Events
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May 23rd
9th-Grade Travel Program Begins
May 28th
10th-Grade Travel Program Begins
June 1st
8th-Grade Travel Program Begins
Parent Supper Club Year-end Social
5 p.m.
June 2nd
7th-Grade Travel Program Begins
Parent Book Club
7 p.m.
June 9th
Half Day
11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Transition to College Night
6:30 p.m.
June 10th
8th-Grade Promotion & Middle School Awards Ceremony
9 a.m.
Global Rewind & School-Wide Picnic
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Upper School Awards Ceremony
1 p.m.
June 12th
Commencement
10 a.m.
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A View From The Ridge
